‘’If you want to a hide a secret, business idea or something very vital from a black man, put it in a book’’

Sounds familiar?

I Guess it does.

That was how bad some of our reading culture used to be, but a clear majority of people now especially in Nigeria now understand the importance of reading quality books and materials.

If we should take a count of people that statement is really talking about, I would probably be number one.

That was how much I hate to read, thinking I was doing myself good, rather I was setting myself up into something that would turn out to be unproductive. But I saw the light, found my way and discovered the secrets really hidden in books and gradually began to reap the benefits.

I changed.

You might also be someone that hates to read, I’m not condemning you, but I need to be truthful to you, it does more harm to you than good.

Take a moment, ask yourself what have you achieved not engaging in reading?

Nothing.

What can you achieve engaging yourself in quality and developmental reading?

A lot to gain.

Our focus here is not to just pick up any ‘kinda’ book and start reading.

No.

Our aim is to discover books which are good and geared towards

Our development

Our goals

Solutions to daily problems

Self-realization

Finding your purpose

Increasing your skill level

Maintaining focus in life

Becoming great leaders/followers

Increasing our IQ level

Understanding your power within.

Etc.

These ten points above is just to give you a road map of what our aim is, the list is unending, keep adding yours until you discover your purpose of reading a book.

We all have different reasons for reading a book or wanting to read a book, let me use myself as an example I don’t like reading comics and novels

Nah

Not my style, that may not be the case for you. It might be your interest and what you love to read. Good, read more of those as long there is a positive result at the end.

Don’t be among the people that read books just to past time.

No.

Rather, be the leader of people who read to invest time. Cos ‘’time na money’’

I know it can be overwhelming at the beginning especially for those not used to constant reading, don’t bite yourself. You need to start gradually and be sure you enjoy what you are reading until you get to that point where it feels like if you don’t read, you can fall sick.

8 Simple Hacks to Make your Daily Reading Fun and Goal Oriented.

Hack#1. Know Your Why

If you don’t know the reason why you are reading, probably there would be no value gotten afterwards. ‘’If the use of a thing is not known, abuse is inevitable’’. You need to define your ‘’why’’ cos it would help you a lot in maintaining your drive and reasons for wanting to read. After knowing your why, it needs to be strong else you would not be able to maintain consistency which is a driving force for achieving your end results.

Hack#2. Give Yourself Daily Task.

When you are done with knowing your ‘why’, you need to give yourself daily task. Decide you want to read one or two chapters a day, you can probably exceed that if you can and have a daily summary of what you have read to be sure it’s making sense.

The task should be simple and achievable, don’t set task that are too big to achieve for you, so it does not turn out to be a reason for you to procrastinate or indirectly making you fear how to start getting things done.

The Point is the task should be completed by the end of the day.

Hack#3. Create Time

Yeah, I know you would probably say ‘I’m busy, I work a 9- 5 job which is really hectic for me blah blah blah and other stories we have heard repeatedly.

Cut me that bullshit, we all have 24 hours in a day, if it is important to you, creating time to read would not be a problem. Kill the excuses and do the work.

It might sound a bit harsh, but the truth is always bitter my friend, wake up and get things done.

Hack#4. Start a Reading Schedule.

A reading schedule would be a great help to you as it makes reading fun and exciting. You can decide to read when you wake up in the morning, during lunch at work,30 minute in between work, or probably when you get back home from work, but it should be done before going to bed.

Hack#5. Get an Accountability Partner.

This has really worked well for me both in developing my reading and writing skill. I decided to get an accountability partner, but in this case my ‘girlfriend’. We have a deal that I must write nothing less than 500 words on a chosen topic and send it before 11pm same day else she would not pick my calls or talk to me for one week.

Huh!!!

You heard me right. One ‘frigging’ week. Who does that?

I know I would not feel happy not talking to her in a day let alone a whole week.

That means I must sit up and make sure I submit my work latest 11:30 pm same day.

Yours’s might not necessarily be your girlfriend, boyfriend, wife or husband. Get an accountability partner that you guys make a deal with a deadline and if you don’t meet up with the deadline you pay a fine of 500,1000 or even more.

Yeah.

When money is involved I guess you would be serious about it, so instead of giving out your free money to someone who did not work for it you would sit up and do the work.

Hack#6. Buy and Read More Books

You need to increase the books you have in your arsenal, you can decide to go for free or paid e-books or if you are the conventional type like myself you buy hard copies.

Don’t stop at buying, read them and make sure it gets deep inside.

Hack#7. Be Consistent

Without consistency, you would never be able to get to your destination, don’t make reading look like a competition. Just be consistent and take massive action.

Never let a day go by without completing one task, keep doing it every day with improvements.

Hack#8. Reward yourself

Reward yourself if you successfully achieve your reading goals for the week, it gives you a sense of accomplishment. Buy yourself a shirt, take yourself out to the movies, cook a nice meal etc. just do something that is rewarding to you and you would start achieving more.

Majority of the fortune 500 companies C.E.Os. you know or heard of have read a lot of books, they are busier than you, make more money than you but still make out time to read.

Highly influential people are those who know the value of what books can do, seize the opportunity and make it worth a fortune.

Stop the excuses and act.

Do the work today, see the reward tomorrow.

You are wise enough, make your choice.

See you at the other side of success.

Kindly share your thoughts in the comment section to help us get better at our daily reading.